A Hong Kong court on Thursday convicted Dow Jones Publishing Co (Asia) Inc, the publisher of The Wall Street Journal, for deterring former reporter Selina Cheng from taking up a trade union position. The verdict has renewed concerns over labour rights and press freedom in Hong Kong.
The court, however, acquitted the company on a separate allegation that Cheng was dismissed because of her involvement in the union.
Cheng, who is also the chairperson of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, initiated a private prosecution after she lost her job in July 2024. The case emerged amid growing concerns over changes to Hong Kong's media environment.
Principal Magistrate David Cheung found Dow Jones guilty on the charge that it had prevented or discouraged Cheng from exercising her rights to participate in a trade union. However, he said the defence had created sufficient reasonable doubt regarding the separate dismissal charge.
Dow Jones had pleaded not guilty to both allegations under Hong Kong's Employment Ordinance. Each offence carries a maximum fine of 100,000 Hong Kong dollars, equivalent to about USD 12,750.
Cheng previously said her supervisor described her participation in the union election as "problematic" and indicated that the matter would have to be discussed with the Journal's management in New York and Dow Jones' legal team. She also alleged that she was told holding a union position would not be compatible with her employment.
The defence maintained during the trial that Cheng's employment was terminated because of redundancy. It also argued that the prosecution had failed to establish that company management had directed her supervisor to take action against her. The defence further accused Cheng of acting in bad faith during an earlier hearing.
The court is expected to announce the sentence at a later date.
Cheng's dismissal in 2024 drew concern from journalists, particularly because international media organisations in Hong Kong had historically been viewed as facing less pressure than local news outlets. The city's media environment has undergone significant changes since Beijing introduced a national security law in 2020.
Two prominent outlets known for critical reporting, Apple Daily and Stand News, were subsequently forced to close after the arrests of senior personnel. Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison in February, while several former staff members received prison sentences ranging from six years and nine months to 10 years.
Hong Kong's position in global press freedom rankings has also fallen sharply. The city ranked 140th among 180 countries and territories in the latest Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index, compared with 18th among 139 regions in 2002. The ruling in Cheng's case comes amid this broader debate over press freedom and workers' rights in Hong Kong.
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